The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-14

L.. 4.-.:.
"And Miss Falconbridge thought
that the young lady In question might
BIZ fully relied upon in her guidance Of
little chilsIren?" he asked.
"Oh. dear me! Yes -- Most GER
tainly."
= You can give me her address,"
Elsie noted i down quickly upon q
slip ~ paper.
Before the end Of that certainly event
fnl day Miss Josephine was engaged as
daily goscrncss in the family Of Uncle
Frcd's sister, at the moderate salary Of
two hundred dollars year.
III.
Some months have passed away since
then. Kind Uncle Fred. that he ever
il, has just appeared in the large, old
fashioned hall, and is assisting 'sMiss
Josephine" in putting on her cloak
previous to taking her departure for
home. He. and ''Sister Polly" also.
are both made Of good stuff. as folks
say and Heaven bless them for it,
only wish to make her feel at home with
them.
And for this reason. therefore. II
seems that Uncle Fred not only. on this
special evening escorts her to the hall
door, but also short distance on the
road towards home. A he says. the
evening is so lovely. and the balmy.
outer mir will do him good. Sheis tell
ing him-why. she does not exactly
know something about their troubles
at home since ''dcar father died. She
likes to talk Of him even now, she
says--not To be forever silent about the
one whom they had lost, as is the fash
ion with 50 many people.
Uncle Fred quite understands her.
and agrees with her also; and yet.
strange, perhaps, somewhat. on his
part, he has never once referred, in
thus chatting with her, to the one
trouble that has served so sadly to shad-
ow his own life. No; he only listens to
her now, il seems.
I'm fact. you know" went on Miss
Josephine" quite simply, The had not
penny left in the house. 1t was too
dreadful. sir.
She paused moment; then went on,
in the least degree nervously:
..Shall tell you what did?'
"Ycs.-
Il advertised. then, in the county
paper don't be shocked. please. At
any rate. did it for the best whether
right or wrong, ! don't quite know"
go on.
II merely said, then. that a widow
and her daughters all born to better
things. as it had seemed were suddenly
thrown into the lowest depths Of pow
erty--apd asked for help
Uncle Fred gave sort Of slight ncrv-
Gus start at this moment. but Miss
Josephine" did not notice it. She was
thinking only at that instant Of the ter
rible struggle which had urged her to
take such step As that which she was
now describing.
And the rcsult?" he asked. quietly.
'.What was it?"
mo answer came" she returned.
gravely, but earnestly. Possibly
those who read the words did not
believe in their truth; or possibly some
did 50 who were not in . position to aid
u.s.
II See" and Uncle Fred spoke now.
as il dreamily. There l must leave
you. Miss Josephine. Very sorry for it
very sorry. indeed. Have just sud-
denly remembered something. You'll
excuse my running away thus abruptly;
won't you? Will be trifle more court
cous next time. Horribly hari-hearted
Of the people; wasn't it, Miss Jose
phine?" And thus talking glibly-as
| II. too. he did not exactly know what he
was saying Uncle Fred lifted his hat
and disappeared.
The following Thursday morning.
| just as Miss Josephine" was starting
| for her usual daily occupation. a letter
was placed in her hand by the postman;
after reading which, that young lady
marched deliberately upstairs again,
removed her hat and cloak, chased
away with her pocket-handkerchief
great many tears that for some reason
or other would insist upon pouring
down her cheeks. and then set to work
| to re-rcad the following words:
DEAR Miss JOSEPHINE: Pardon my abrupt
| leave-taking yesterday; but win now explain.
| Returning home expressly BY way Of the post
once. did small stroke OF business there on
| my own account.
Miss Elsie ralconbridec was out, having
| gone 70 spend the evening with the widowed.
| and. alas. now childless mother Of her once.
| and 80 lately. too. sailor lover. We have. how
ever. already spoken together-you and I-of
| this unlocked for event and also Of the brave
| way in which Miss Elsie bears the heavy blow.
| "But would now speak OF komething else
| % selfish are We all In this world, you see
| persuaded the good dame, Janet Lislc, 70 assist
me In something which was puzzling me not
| little.
| "Ihcard last evening, for the nrst time. OF
| coursc-and also from your own lips, most
strange 20 say-that twenty dollar note, which
| l had sent you in answer 20 your advertisement
| asking for aid. never reached you. II had not,
| I nov ma. miscarricd IN the ordinary way that
letters do occasionally 90 astray: but Il was -
| impossible. you will presently sec, that u should
| ever have reached your abode. rs the residence
/ OF one OF the ancient patriarchs.
| THE letter containing the amount named